Silence of a Pakistani Muslim woman: The influence of culture on the meaning of silence

ABSTRACT Western feminist writers often associate voice with empowerment and treat silence as a manifestation of a woman’s powerlessness. Although the significance of voice cannot be minimized, the association of silence with victimization is flawed. This essay analyzes the silent appearance of Ghazala Khan, a Pakistani Muslim woman, at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Using post-colonial methodology, I argue that her silence was an expression of her agency rather than her powerlessness. My analysis focuses on Trump’s comments, Ghazala’s post-convention remarks, and Ghazala’s dupatta (light scarf). The impulse to essentialize silence can be checked by examining contextual information surrounding the silence.